The Radleian - Summer 2023

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RADLEIAN SUMMER TERM 2023

US POLITICAL TOUR | DALLAS DREAMING | RADLEY UNION: THE REVIVAL

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FROM THE WARDEN

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FROM THE

WARDEN s I write, it is just two days before the Leavers' Service, one of my favourite moments of the year. It is deeply moving to see 150 or so Radleians, at the end of their time at the College, with their parents, singing out their favourite hymns at volume. Real volume. We hand them their OR ties and shake their hands. We finish with Jerusalem. It is unashamedly nostalgic. They go out into the world. For the new Chaplain, Revd Bob Evans, whom you meet in the pages of this Radleian, it will be the first such occasion . . . I hazard a guess that he will be impressed.

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I preach at the service. I always choose a favourite passage from Philippians 4. The key is verse 8: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” It is never easy to summarise the purpose of education, but I think the Apostle Paul got it right. We should think.

I have been really encouraged this academic year to see that in action at Radley. Not to say that thinking has not been at the heart of Radley before, but it has been a good year. Two examples come to mind, and both feature in the pages that follow. The first is the revival of competitive debating: internally and externally. The second was a trip to Washington at Easter – I was lucky enough to be present – where boys had the opportunity to speak with, listen to and debate with politicians from all backgrounds and viewpoints. As I watched them, I was proud of them.

They were thinking.

In modern times, we often, sadly, perhaps without meaning to, shut down debate and stop people thinking. We live in echo chambers and accept prevailing ‘wisdom’ as truth. I hope not here. A champion of ‘thinking’ has, of course, been the Academic Director, Steve Rathbone, who leaves after decades of service to the College. He has been a tremendous schoolmaster but above all, he has helped us to think. I know that his successor, Jonathan Porter will build on that legacy. There is nothing more important.

I hope you enjoy this edition of The Radleian.

John Moule, Warden

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US POLITICAL TOUR

US POLITICAL TOUR

Frank Luntz’s regular visits to Radley have sparked a deep interest in global politics amongst boys. This trip set the intent of both learning about America in general, understanding some of its key issues, as well as its politics. We were lucky enough to see the inner workings of American politics from some of America’s most distinguished politicians. We engaged in many debates and conversations with extraordinary people throughout the week.

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he College’s friendship with the American political commentator and pollster Frank Luntz has provided our boys with unique opportunities to get close to the American and British political systems. In April, 12 boys travelled to Washington D.C. for a political tour alongside 12 boys from Verbum Dei, a Jesuit High School in Los Angeles.

Benedict (R, D Social) reflects on this life-changing trip.

On the evening of our first day, we met with the two-star Admiral Mark Montgomery and a dozen West Point cadets. West Point is one of the top American service academies in the country, and the cadets were all the evidence you would need. They were interesting, clever and disciplined. Throughout the

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evening we enjoyed fascinating

speakers, we met with Cory Booker, New Jersey’s Senator. He filled

conversations with Admiral Montgomery

the room with a presence and dynamism that left everyone stunned.

and the cadets. Learning about complex

He spoke about the power of engaging directly with the community

international affairs from a military

and the power of relationships. His mantra is to not simply know your

perspective was eye-opening, as we saw how

community but to be part of its very fabric. Everybody in the room

international tension builds and is broken.

left inspired and energised. That brief half an hour meeting, was

For many of us in civilian life, geopolitics

unquestionably the highlight of an already exceptional week.

may seem distant, but it is very real for them.

We later met with Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey We felt fortunate to meet many

and Donald Trump’s debate partner in 2020. At this stage, Trump’s

congresspeople and hear a range of political

indictment was hanging like a thick mist in the air, and so, from the

perspectives. Whilst we may see American

moment he sat down the conversation revolved around all things

politics portrayed on social media as a

Trump. Mr Christie coached Trump for the presidential debates,

breeding ground for radical views with

which are a key event in each presidential election cycle. He was an

routine and bloody political battles, we saw

exceptional speaker with some incredible stories of what the Trump

differently. The eleven congresspeople we

administration was truly like, as well as unparalleled insight into the

met were knowledgeable, calm and

living, breathing life of politics.

calculated. It was captivating to see how they engage with decisions that affect not

This week was the most incredible week, we were lucky enough to

just their state or even their country, but

meet some of the most influential people in global politics, such as

the world.

White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, and the UAE Ambassador to the USA, Yousef Al Otaiba. Both the Radley and Verbum Dei students learned from each other and our understanding of policy,

experienced some of the best politicians and

politics and politicians was significantly enhanced.

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On the fourth day, having already

OUTSTANDING MATHS OLYMPIAD RESULTS Our boys returned outstanding results in the UKMT Mathematical Olympiad. In the Cayley (Year 9 competition), five boys won prizes. Congratulations to Ethan (H), Ray (H),

Leonardo (H), Steve (H) and Tom (D). In the Hamilton (Year 10 competition), four boys were recognised: Victor (J), Kelvin (C), David (L) and Kevin (C). These are our best results ever and highlight the outstanding ability of our junior mathematicians.

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RADLEY UNION THE REVIVAL hat began as a distant buzz has over the course of the year intensified to a thunderous statement: debating at Radley is back. After a hiatus of some years, the College’s debating society – the Radley Union – has been revived and has taken the school by storm. Tim Schmalz, Master in Charge of Debating, tells us more.

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At the heart of Radley’s structure lie relationships and conversation, between boys, dons, staff, partner organisations and the wider world. It is therefore no surprise that there is genuine appetite for and skill at debating, which combines the art of public speaking, persuasive argumentation, logic and teamwork. The aim of this new chapter of the Radley Union is to encourage and develop a culture of debating across the College, involving boys and dons, to engage critically and purposefully with ideas and issues, and to challenge them to learn from and respect different views. Too often debating descends to braggadocio and bravado, but at Radley we stress and value the importance of substance, of collegiality, of listening.

Debating also reinforces essay-writing strategies learned in the classroom, with emphasis on structure, clarity, the effective use of evidence, signposting, rhetoric and argument. Long employed in lessons by humanities dons, debating at the Radley Union has

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enabled wider participation across the school, with boys collaborating with peers in preparation for the weekly Thursday evening debates in front of the Radley community in Coffee Shop.

In addition to the regular Union debates, the College hosted two inter-Social competitions: the Senior (three-boy teams from Sixth and Fifth Form, with at least one Vth per team) and the Junior (also three members from among Removes and Shells, with at least one Shell). Each competition ran over four weeks, with the final taking place during Social Prayers for the two Socials vying for the win. In Lent Term, A Social (Proposition) faced off against D Social (Opposition) over the motion ‘This House would restore the death penalty’, which saw A Social’s Mustafa (6.1), Jeff (6.1) and Blake (V) victorious.

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Enthusiasm for debating has led to recognition and success beyond Radley, as well.

In May, L Social (Proposition) met B Social (Opposition) in the final of the Junior competition debating the motion ‘This House would under no circumstances fight for its King and country’, the famous and controversial 1933 Oxford Union debate on pacifism and patriotism, with the team from B Social of Ben (R), Edward (R) and Haozhen (S) narrowly emerging as the winner.

Enthusiasm for debating has led to recognition and success beyond Radley, as well. A team of 6.1 boys – Hyunjo (J), Zach (J) and Brayden (D) – won the English-Speaking Union’s Schools’ Mace regional final, earning Radley a bid at the national final at Dartmouth House in London over the Easter holiday. There, a reformed team of Hyunjo, Myles (D) and Blake (A) competed against the top twelve teams in the country. While we did not proceed to the grand final, vital lessons were learned, and we prepare with determination for next year.

Moreover, Brayden and Arthur (F) qualified for the final of the Oxford Union Schools’ Debating Competition against the top debating teams in the world, a gauntlet of British parliamentary style debating that took place

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over an entire day.

WHARTON PIANO PRIZE The Wharton Piano Competition is the highlight of the year for many of our pianists. Boys work incredibly hard perfecting their chosen pieces, promising an impressive hour of piano playing – and this year was no different. Kim (6.2, K) won the prestigious Wharton Cup for his beautiful rendition of Noël, from Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus. James (V, J) and Aleksandre (6.2, B) were highly commended for their performances.

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With such potential for growth and development, debating at Radley constitutes one of the most dynamic and promising outcomes of the past months, and has generated positive energy and intellectual nourishment across the College. On behalf of the school, who will surely benefit from this, I thank Ian Yorston who proved instrumental in giving debating at Radley new life.

Without him, none of this would have been possible. As I inherit the reins of the Radley Union upon his imminent retirement, he has set a high bar to improve upon. What is clear, is that debating is here to stay.

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ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

DALLAS DREAMING ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ast year, Radley’s top performing Vex Robotics Team 84899A “Allen” were cruelly knocked out in their divisional semi-finals at the 2022 National Championships having dominated the qualifications. In the aftermath, they promised they would make it to the World Championships in their next season. They kept their word as Alastair Vaan, Head of Robotics, reports from Dallas, Texas.

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The Vex Robotics Competition culminated in a huge event held in Dallas where teams arrived from all over the USA and the rest of the world. More than 800 teams competed over three days to be crowned world champions. Even to get here, teams will have had to win regional and national or state level competitions, so the standards are astronomically high. After another domination of the qualification rounds at the 2023 Nationals, “Allen” made it all the way to the grand final, qualifying them for the World Championship – dream fulfilled and, suddenly, lots to do... visas, flights, robot case!

Robotics is a multi-domain pursuit. There is much to achieve, with teams developing a robot from scratch to play a game that changes

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After another domination of the

qualification rounds at the 2023

Nationals, “Allen” made it all the way to the grand final, qualifying them for the World Championship.

with each year. Teams design, build, code and operate their robot over a year-long season and compete both with and against other teams in intense competition. By the time the end of year finals come around, teams are well versed in the year’s game strategies and solutions.

The boys arrived in Dallas to a long wait in the border queue which made for a tiring day. With some humour, we persuaded various Uber drivers to accommodate our 19” flight case and we made it downtown where we were kindly met by Dallas local and Old Radleian, Charlie Lass (1994, A), who offered his hospitality and support while we were in town. It was great to have local knowledge to hand and it was not long before we were enjoying a perfect burger on his recommendation and thinking about the event ahead of us.

In the morning, the boys arrived at the Kay Bailey Centre, set up their pit area and had their robot inspected. Our final inspection judge knew the boys from the UK competitions; the competitions take place because of a dedicated band of volunteers, and it was reassuring to see a familiar face in the crowd at the event.

In the pause before the main competition the next day, Charlie kindly hosted dinner, sharing nostalgic tales of Radley and offering sage entrepreneurial advice to the boys. It was a night to remember and a welcome break from the focus of the competition. l

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Congratulations to Henry (6.1, J), Leo (6.2, J), Sam (6.2, J), Luke (6.2, J) and Borys (6.2, F).

The next two days were a maelstrom of matches,

They have won Sportsmanship awards alongside

problem solving and enjoying competing with other

their other trophies and those relationships paid off

robot teams from across the globe. Time between

as we were lucky enough to be invited by another

matches allows for making new friends, swapping

UK team to accompany them as they became the

ideas (and stickers for the robot’s flight case!) and

first UK team to reach the arena finals – to

catching up with friends from the UK who qualified

experience the event from the seats surrounding the

with them.

pitches was an unexpected treat.

After a tricky first morning – technical issues can be

The competition rolls over to a new season at the

tiny, but decisive – the team eventually found some

end of the World Championships, the game being

rhythm and ended up finishing in the middle of

lowered grandly from the ceiling in front of

their division after the two days were up. This was

thousands of spectators in the main arena. The

just beyond the level needed to enter the divisional

boys’ looming exams meant a dash for the evening

knock-out round, but they can be incredibly proud

flight home. Their journey with Radley Robotics

of getting so far. It was an experience they will

ended there, but their legacy in setting a benchmark

not forget.

to not only the Radley boys following them but also

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the teams that we are beginning to seed into local One of the markers of this team of boys, largely from

primary schools through the partnerships

J Social, is the way they have carried themselves

programme cannot be ignored and will be

through the season over their two years competing.

long lasting.

INNOVATION SCHOLARSHIP We are pleased to announce a new Innovation Scholarship, devised to celebrate boys with big ideas and a determination to realise them. The growth of robotics, computer science and entrepreneurship (in addition to the long-standing popularity of design engineering) coincides with a growing number of boys with a passion and aptitude for coding, engineering, technology and the like. We look forward to welcoming our first Innovation Scholars in September 2024.

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A MOMENT OF ME

A MOMENT OF ME ach boy makes their own mark on Radley, and Radley on them. Our new video series, titled A Moment of Me, celebrates this and aims to highlight the individual passions of our boys through a short autobiographical film. From military history and film to quantum physics and race car driving, we hope each episode will inspire viewers with the knowledge and enthusiasm on show.

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The first episode of A Moment of Me featured Ben (R, B Social) who shared his love of military history.

Ben’s passion had been sparked after being gifted a boxset of Horrible Histories DVD’s and books when he was seven, and he hasn’t looked back since! As the founder of Radley’s Military History Society, sharing his passion is not new to Ben. He told us about his involvement with the Falklands War Project in 2022, speaking with great admiration for Major General Dair Farrar-Hockley MC, David Hart Dyke CBE, and Rowland White, whom he had invited to speak at Radley and how he hoped their visits would “instil this passion in other boys.”

The glimpse into the lives of our boys, both at Radley and away from the College, is part of the uniqueness of this series. Ed (V, L Social) spoke of juggling the commitments of his GCSE year with his ambitions of becoming a Formula 1 driver and the long hours of training that come with that goal.

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Quantum computing enthusiast, Hyunjo (6.1, J Social), told us how his discussions with students across the country led him to forming Qsium, a nationwide student-led initiative that aims to democratise education in quantum computing. We have

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no idea what quantum computing really means, but thanks to Hyunjo and the formation of Qsium, dozens of students

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across the country now do!

Our new video series aims to highlight the individual passions of our boys through short autobigraphical films. We hope each episode will inspire viewers with the knowledge and enthusiasm on show.

A Moment of Me has not only garnered attention from boys, dons, and parents, but also Old Radleians and even professionals in similar fields: When Arthur (6.2, E Social) spoke passionately about his love of film and his plans to pursue a career in the industry, the comment section on Instagram was filled with old boys reminiscing about their own time as a member of Radley’s Video Unit led by Max Horsey, as well as an offer from AfricaGap to join them as a videographer on a 10 week expedition to Kenya and Zimbabwe. As one Old Radleian commented, we “look forward to seeing you get your BAFTA in the years to come, Arthur.”

As A Moment of Me continues to grow, we will be expanding the series and including a wider range of topics and voices. It’s not easy to put yourself ‘out there’, and we are grateful to the boys who have stepped up to the plate and shared their passions

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with us so far.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS’ REGATTA SUCCESS Congratulations to the Radley College Boat Club on their fantastic performance at the National Schools’ Regatta. More than 100 pupils took part and returned to the College with four gold and one silver medal across the three-day event.

EXAM RESULTS & RECENT UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

Exam Results We are proud of our excellent academic outcomes. Our GCSE and A-Level results have been consistently high in recent years with outstanding individual and collective performances from our boys. We work hard to ensure every boy maximises his academic potential and the five-year rolling averages (to reflect the varying conditions that examinations have been sat) evidence this.

A-LEVEL

A* 35%

A*-A 70%

A*-B 92%

GCSE

Grade 9 40%

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Grade 9-8 67%

Grade 9-7 85%

DEGREE APRENTICESHIPS Congratulations to George (6.2, C) and Lachie (6.2, A) who have successfully won places on two prestigious degree apprenticeship programmes. Lachie has been offered a place at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and George will join UBS’s Global Wealth Management Scheme. We wish both boys the best of luck as they start their new roles in September.

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Recent University Destinations Our Futures team, led by the Head of Sixth Form and incorporating University Entrance and Careers, plays a critical role in preparing our boys for life beyond Radley. In a normal year, more than 90% of boys will secure their first-choice university destination, with the majority choosing to study at a Russell Group institution. Increasingly, boys are choosing to broaden their horizons and attend world-class universities in North America, Europe and Asia.

Other Destinations UNITED KINGDOM Loughborough University Newcastle University University of Birmingham University of Nottingham University of Southampton University of St Andrews EUROPE University of Bocconi, Milan Universiteit Amsterdam IE Univerisity, Spain NORTH AMERICA

University of Bristol

University of Edinburgh

University of Leeds

University of Exeter University of Manchester

Oxford University

University College London University of Imperial Bath College London

King’s College London London Film Academy Royal Agricultural University

LSE

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Pomona College, California Harvard University University of Virginia New York University (NYU) Stanford University University of Washington Boston University University of Southern California McGill University

University of Warwick

Durham University

The map below showcases the university destinations of recent leavers.

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MEET THE CHAPLAIN BOB EVANS

MEET THE CHAPLAIN

BOB EVANS

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ur new Chaplain, Revd Bob Evans, joined us in January from Christ’s College Cambridge. Chapel is figuratively and literally at the heart of Radley life and our five weekly services provide the time and space for boys of all faiths and none to reflect and reset. As well as conducting Baptisms, Confirmation Services and Memorial Services, the Chaplain plays a key pastoral role in supporting boys and staff at times of need. Bob reflects on how he, his wife Alice, and their two young daughters, Florence and Astrid, have settled in.

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It has been a tremendously enjoyable six months since I joined Radley as I have encountered more and more of what makes this community so exceptional. Chapel has lost none of its initial attractions and I have now been thoroughly initiated into Radley’s favourite hymns (for the record, the Dambusters Hymn narrowly beats Non Nobis as my preferred option – but I’m always open to being persuaded otherwise in the new year).

I have loved throwing myself into classroom teaching and helping the boys grapple with difficult subjects.

Seeing them debate with one another, doggedly pursue a difficult question or light up as something clicks, is incredibly rewarding. Even the burden of marking is more than made up for by the opportunity to talk about the relative merits of German and Soviet tanks at the Battle of Kursk.

Summer Term also got me out onto the sports field as I coached the Colts 3rd XI. I enjoy watching cricket as much as any vicar (as I write, England are counter-attacking well in the second Ashes test but we all know that could change…). I have, however, discovered that this doesn’t necessarily equate to technical coaching skills, so I have probably learned as much from the boys as they have from me (my bowling has improved considerably). Still, an unbeaten season is very satisfying and I look forward to more sporting success!

I have now visited all the Socials for Cocoa and met their distinctive characters (little surprise that in D my competitive side was tested at both table tennis and chess…). In all seriousness, it has also given me a chance to watch the boys discussing and thinking outside the classroom in conversations ranging from the role of bias in journalism to a discussion of Chinese politics. This bodes very well for the boys’ readiness for life beyond

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Radley and is part of why working here is so rewarding.

EVENSONG AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY Our Chapel Choir joined forces with girls from Godolphin and Latymer School to sing Choral Evensong at Westminster Abbey in March. Following an intensive day of rehearsals in Hammersmith, the choirs sang a beautiful service of music in the grand cathedral, led by Sam Gladstone, Precentor.

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THE RADLEY KEYS AWARD

THE RADLEY KEYS

AWARD adley College is committed to educating

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talented young men, regardless of their social or demographic background and thus

we are proud to be launching The Radley Keys Award, an all-inclusive scholarship programme for gifted and ambitious boys from low-income families. The award is aimed at 11+ and 16+ boys currently attending a state primary or secondary school. Following an academic assessment and

means-testing process, Radley Keys Award holders will be awarded a free or substantially funded place allowing boys to focus on reaching their goals and maximising the opportunities on offer at Radley.

Sophie Langdale, Director of Admissions and Communications, tells us more.

Sewell’s ambition when he founded the school in 1847 was clear: one in 10 boys at Radley should pay no fees. 176 years later this vision is yet to be realised, but we can see the progress. Since the launch of our Funded Places campaign five years ago, the number of boys in receipt of funding has grown by 62% with 120 receiving some form of financial help and 33 of those paying no fees at all.

Our ambition now is to reach a point where 75 boys will attend Radley on a free place and another 200 boys will receive some form of financial support.

We continue to see strong funded places applicants at all entry points but following an extensive review of our Funded Places Programme three things became clear. Firstly, that the admissions and application process was daunting and confusing for prospective families in the state system. Secondly, that the requirement for boys to perform better than their prep school

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Radley College is

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committed to educating talented young men,

counterparts who enjoy more opportunity and support, made them feel disadvantaged. And thirdly, that we were losing talented state-educated boys by not guaranteeing 100% plus funding in Year 6.

regardless of their social or demographic

To counter this, we have carefully curated an assessment

background.

process which is designed to recognise and reward potential over prior attainment. Rather than ISEB Common Pre-Tests, Radley Keys Award 11+ applicants will sit a national curriculum English and Maths paper and spend time in lessons and various workshops with dons who will evaluate their aptitude for, and attitude to, learning. They will be interviewed by a senior member of staff and will take part in a series of team-building exercises, so we can assess their soft skills: creativity, curiosity, communication, resilience, reliability, leadership and teamwork.

Families with boys currently educated at a prep school are equally important to Radley and will still be eligible for financial assistance. They should look at our other awards such as The Silk Award for boys with outstanding all-round ability whose families need some bursary support, or, The Warden’s Award, which recognises boys of exceptional ability via scholarship (be that Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport or our new award, The Innovation Scholarship).

This rebranding and reworking of our current Funded Places campaign is designed to celebrate boys who will bring something special to the school. Boys who, regardless of their background and economic circumstances, possess the qualities, spirit and character to make the most of themselves and to help transform the lives of others. Boys, who will uphold our core values and have the moral courage and inner strength to make the world a better place.

And it is in recognition of these exceptional qualities that rather than ‘bursary’ or ‘funded place’ the award (and 100% funding) will henceforth be known as a scholarship. I think Sewell would be pleased with our progress.

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THE MILLIGAN CUP

THE MILLIGAN CUP

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Sam gave a fantastic performance. I know that

professional actors often struggle with this musical

because of its intricacy, but Sam’s sense of character, staging and, of course, the vocal were all spot on.

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he bi-annual Milligan Cup is a highlight of the College calendar. Founded in 2010 thanks to a donation from the family of Tom Milligan (2005, D/K), the first Radleian to be awarded a place in the National Youth Musical Theatre, the competition is a joyous celebration of songs from the shows. Following a qualifying round, the best performances are chosen for the grand final where boys don full costume and sing with a professional line-up of musicians.

Misérables, La La Land, Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and West Side Story, amongst many others.

The adjudicator, Jon Emmanuel (Director of Dear Evan Hansen in the West End), chose Sam (6.1, K Social) as the winner for his outstanding performance of The Smell of Rebellion from Tim Minchin’s adaptation of Matilda. On Sam’s Miss Trunchball, Jon said: “Sam gave a fantastic performance. I know that professional actors

In the early years of the competition, boys generally opted for

often struggle with this musical because of its

classic musical theatre numbers, but the emergence of new

intricacy, but Sam’s sense of character, staging

writers and the turnover of shows on Broadway and in the

and, of course, the vocal were all spot on. A

West End has led to increasingly more diverse and comic

song like this requires great courage and Sam

set-lists. This year, boys chose numbers from modern shows

really ‘went for it’, capturing the spirit of this

including The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Matilda, Les

despicable headmistress! A worthy winner.”

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Colby (6.2, K Social) and Jerry (6.1, A Social) were awarded joint second place. Colby’s mischievous and sarcastic Turn It Off from The Book of Mormon led the adjudicator to suggest Colby’s performance wouldn’t look out of place on stage in the West End. Of Jerry’s Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Misérables, Jon said that his vocal was exceptional, noting the person sat in front of him was moved to tears. Colm (6.1, A Social) came

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third for his evocative Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar.

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We are blessed to have such a large

pool of theatrical talent at Radley which makes my job so rewarding!

Ms Victoria Buse, Director of Drama, was blown away by the talent and dedication on display. “We had 40 boys take part in the qualifying rounds this year and the level was as high as I can remember. It takes real courage to give your all to a song, especially in a solo setting, and our 11 finalists left nothing in the tank! It was a wonderful evening of musical theatre performance, evidenced by the rapturous applause after each song. We are blessed to have such a large pool of theatrical talent at Radley which is what makes my job so rewarding!

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Watch out Broadway…”

GUNN CUP Congratulations to Sam (S, J) who won this year’s Gunn Cup for Brass trophy. Sam performed a brilliant rendition of Vinter’s Hunter’s Moon on the French Horn. Kira Doherty, this year’s adjudicator, said Sam’s performance was “very, very engaging.” The video of Sam’s winning piece, as well as all other performances, can be found on the Radley Video Vimeo account.

A FOND FAREWELL

A FOND FAREWELL

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his year, Radley waves goodbye to a number of long-serving members of Common Room, Anthony Williams, Ian Yorston, George May, Gabriela Dalrymple, Richard Greed, Stephen Rathbone, and Ben and Kate Knox. To mark their departure, Radley Video sat down with them and asked them to reflect on their careers, share memories and funny stories, and give their hopes for the future.

his teaching room just before Leave-Away, Anthony spoke about the growth of music at the College, how back-channel negotiations with the astro pitch contractors led to a new running track and revealed where the mysterious pawprints by Lodge came from…

In his three decades at Radley, Ian Yorston has variously been Head of Science, Head of Physics, Director of

We are biased, but we believe that Radley is the most

Digital Strategy,

wonderful place to work; as an environment, as a school,

Chairman of Common

as a community, and as a place to be professionally

Room and, well,

stimulated, challenged and rewarded. Radley attracts

the list goes on… In his interview

world class professionals with a wide array of different

Ian Yorston

backgrounds and interests, and the spark and energy of a

he discussed the evolution of technology at the College,

talented Common Room is infectious. One member who

explained why he had to leave his wife and newly born

truly embodies

daughter in the hospital to speak at a Common Room

this was the first

meeting (he assures us he did apologise!) and recounted

interviewee,

a food fight in Hall with some unlikely culprits.

Anthony Williams, our longstanding

A common theme throughout these interviews was the

Head of

“overall school mastering” that is so integral in helping

Instrumental

our boys achieve extraordinary things and leave Radley

Music. Filmed in

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Anthony Williams

as kind and confident young men.

WAGS HONOURED BY MIDDLESEX Congratulations to Radley's Cricket Professional, Andy Wagner, who was awarded the ceremonial Middlesex Cap in recognition of his service to youth cricket. Over the last two decades, Wags has helped the club to run representative teams in fixtures across the country, with many of his players going on to represent England, Middlesex, and other counties.

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George May referred to the all-encompassing nature of College life when reflecting on his experiences as Tutor of H Social, his time spent on the pitches and the memories he made in the Theatre, where he directed dozens of productions over his 17 years. Gabriela Dalrymple similarly spoke of the great rapport formed between boys and dons at Radley, and is the thing she will miss the most. Happily for George May

us however, this isn’t a true goodbye as Gaby will continue to live on campus with her husband, Simon, and their daughter, Agata.

With staff taking such active roles in all aspects of College life, perhaps it is not surprising that many larger-than-life dons have secured legendary status with generations of Radleians. After 29 years of service, one such character is Gabriela Dalrymple

Richard Greed. As Master in Charge of Rugby he led a 1st XV to an undefeated season and has nurtured the careers of numerous professional rugby players. He later became Tutor of B Social and Undermaster, as well as his important role as Master in Charge of the JCR. He has worked extensively with the admissions team, travelling to prep schools and conferences far and wide, and with the Radleian Society

Richard Greed

with whom is he always happy to visit universities for drinks with Old Radleians.

Academic Director, Stephen Rathbone, also leaves a lasting impression. In the Summer Term, the Warden announced the introduction of The Rathbone Lecture, a talk which will ‘challenge the status quo, provoke us to think and generate ongoing debate in the best traditions of liberal free speech’ – Stephen Rathbone

a fitting tribute to the 31 years Steve dedicated to the College.

As Anthony, Ian, George, Gaby, Richard, Steve, and Ben and Kate Knox leave Radley, they have woven into the very fabric of the College and we will miss them dearly. Laughter, tears and everything in between, we hope you enjoy these unique long-form interviews, interspersed with archive video footage. You can watch all interviews on our YouTube Ben and Kate Knox

channel (@RadleyCollege).

26

TALKING HEADS WITH CHLOE COMBI

TALKING HEADS WITH CHLOE COMBI

O

n a warm summer evening, more than 50 parents tuned in for the second of our Talking Heads webinars. Launched in the Summer Term in response to parent demand, the sessions aim to inform parents of the challenges their son’s face and provide practical solutions on how to help overcome them. Chloe Combi is well-known as a podcaster, writer, and futurist, and is renowned for her social commentary on the lives of Gen-Z and Generation Alpha. She has designed The Respect Project, our partnership with Downe House, and has led popular sessions for boys and staff at Radley over the last two academic years. We summarise her wide-ranging talk and share answers to challenging and pertinent questions from parents.

“

”

The sessions aim to inform parents of the challenges their son’s face and provide practical solutions on how to help overcome them.

27

In her synopsis, Chloe asked three challenging

Mental Health

questions: did you know that TikTok isn’t the most popular social media platform for

The evolution of the mental health conversation from a

teenagers? (Snapchat). What age does the average

fringe issue barely discussed by men to an issue at the

child first see a pornographic image? (Nine for

forefront of society is a hugely positive thing. However,

boys, ten for girls). Do you know the difference

there is still a hangover from the time when men bottled

between black pilling and red pilling? (References

things up because talking ‘wasn’t the done thing’. The vast

from the Matrix film about something young men

majority of teenagers, especially those at Radley, feel

can ‘take’ to change their stance and actions in

confident talking about their feelings with friends, teachers

retaliation to commonly held societal

and their family; safe in the knowledge they will be listened

perspectives. Red pilling: to reject feminism and

to and supported. However, Chloe caveated this with her

adopt an alpha male-like approach to life. Black

belief that we talk about mental health more because ‘many

pilling: a fatalistic and nihilistic notion that ‘it’s

young people are just sadder than they were’. This

over’ because ‘inferior’ men have no chance of

manifests itself in different ways and stems from a range of

establishing sexual relationships with women).

factors, however Chloe felt that boys were left shaken by the

The constant evolution of social media and the

anger around the Everyone’s Invited and the #MeToo

increasingly secret lives that teenagers can lead is

movements. In her view, boys were horrified by the stories

increasingly worrying to parents, and many feel

and the deep inequalities that clearly exist but felt

ill-equipped to talk to their children about topics

powerless to make any meaningful change as they had been

they don’t understand. Chloe’s expertise and her

branded ‘toxic’ by society. This, she felt, was causing a

calm, measured approach to unpicking these

troubling level of social anxiety in young men which was

challenges was evident from the off and met with

exploited by Andrew Tate (more on him later!) and

a cyber sigh of relief from the gathered attendees.

explained why his rise was so meteoric.

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TALKING HEADS WITH CHLOE COMBI

University or No University?

Social Media

There is an increasing number of young people –

Social media continues to evolve at pace. Chloe felt the

especially those who are highly academic – who are

audience was well-enough informed about the general

questioning the traditional pathway of university. This

challenges but gave a nuanced perspective about the

is driven by three key factors: the costs of university

social media lens, and how we look at the world

study, employers criticising course content and its role

through it. She noted the gulf between the way people

in preparing people for the workplace and a growing

present themselves and their true personality and feels

ambivalence about ‘uni life’. In her discussions with

that we should be more rigorous in challenging

teenagers across the country, Chloe has seen a seismic

ourselves on how authentic our online behaviours and

shift in young people’s maturity around this issue

opinions are. She likened Generation-Z and their use of

with degree apprenticeships and other on-the-job

social media to the smoking generation of the 1950s

training schemes now being viewed as ‘on par’ with

which ignored convention until it became too late.

university places.

Generation-A (those born after the year 2000) will

“

”

29

The evolution of the mental health conversation from a fringe issue barely discussed by men to an issue at the forefront of society is a hugely positive thing.

benefit from the greater research into digital activity, and

become weak and pathetic. Chloe eloquently described

parents will likely become stricter and stricter as time goes

the emergence of Andrew Tate but focussed much of her

on. Chloe noted that the world’s most successful

time on how parents could talk to their sons about him.

technology entrepreneurs are amongst the strictest with

She emphasised that Tate should not be tackled as a

their young children’s screentime.

whole, but by unpicking specific issues, advising parents to ask open questions about a broad topic and to then

Andrew Tate

hone in on the areas, she advises, they feel most confident.

It is incredibly important that boys don’t feel punished but

Many parents will have heard of Andrew Tate, a former Big

supported as they explore and explain their perspectives.

Brother contestant who has built a huge online following in the last 18 months, mostly through TikTok. Tate talks

We are grateful to Chloe for sharing fascinating insights

with great confidence about the importance of ‘men being

into the life of teenagers and look forward to her continued

men’ and adopting an alpha attitude. Chloe suggests a

work with our boys through The Respect Project. We will

worrying number of young men believe Tate is speaking

share details of upcoming events accordingly.

NEWS

truth to power, challenging a culture in which, she believes,

THIS ISN’T GOING TO HURT We loved hosting 'This isn't going to hurt!' – an interactive day for boys considering applying to medical school. It was a pleasure to welcome our friends from OX14 Learning Partnership schools to join us too. GPs, consultants, registrars, senior nurses, doctors and paramedics led sessions on surgery, general practice and intensive care, providing students with fascinating insight into the medical professions.

30

INTRODUCING THE SENIOR FOUR

INTRODUCING THE

SENIOR FOUR new academic year heralds the start of new roles for the Senior Prefects and Pups as they are known at Radley. Zach (J) will be Senior Prefect, supported by Sepehr (E) as Second Prefect. Hyunjo (J) will lead the College’s academic life as Senior Academic Prefect, with Will (E) appointed as Senior Co-Curricular Prefect.

A

Becoming a member of the Senior Four is the pinnacle of

His Deputy, Sepehr, will bring a unique perspective on

boy leadership at Radley. Alongside the Social Pups, they

Radley life having only joined the College in the 6.1 year

set a positive example to their peers and act as the point

from Tile Cross Academy in Birmingham. As is

of connection between boys and staff. They represent the

traditional, the Second Prefect takes the lead on boy

views of boys to the Warden and other members of

involvement in our partnerships programme: “I feel

staff and work hard to foster a hardworking and happy

incredibly passionately about the work we do through

atmosphere.

partnership. We are all very fortunate to be at Radley, but there is so much we can learn from others. My hope is to

Zach is delighted to take on his new responsibilities:

increase boys’ understanding of, and engagement with,

“Sepehr, Hyunjo, Will and I can’t wait to get started. It’s

our work. If I can do that, then I’ll look back on a job

such a privilege to be given the role of Senior Prefect,

well done.”

and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous… regardless, I’m going to give it my all. I want boys to feel

Congratulations also go to the new Heads of Social: Alex

like they can talk to me about anything, and I’ll do my

(A), Freddie (B), Woody (C), Angus (D), Henry (E), Kostas

best to address their issues. Above all, I’m so excited!”

(F), Joe (G), Hector (H), Hector (J), Will (K) and Amir (L).

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Sepehr – Second Prefect

Zach – Senior Prefect What’s something you would like to achieve as Senior

What’s something we wouldn’t expect about you?

Prefect this year?

I would really like to push the most talented Radleians more rigorously. For example, I would like to see a more complete programme for scholars and perhaps even a

I came to the UK from Iran at 10 without speaking a word of English; failed my SATs and only found a secondary school that would accept me a week before I was supposed to start Year 7.

Head of Scholars position.

Do you have a plan for life beyond Radley?

Do you have a plan for after Radley?

I'd love to say I'm doing something really unique and cool, but I'm not... I'm planning on going to university,

I’ve always enjoyed doing things with a humanitarian aspect, so I’d love to be a doctor. However, I like to keep an open mind and would love a ‘squiggly’ career!

but hopefully after a gap year. My dream is to go to Yale University.

Hyunjo – Senior Academic Prefect What are your priorities as Senior Academic Prefect this year?

In my role, I have two main focuses. Firstly, I'd like boys to read more because I think it would contribute to the academic culture of intellectual vitality.

Secondly, I'd like Radleians to challenge themselves beyond Radley and participate in more competitions, passion projects and individual research.

What’s something we wouldn’t expect about you?

My Spotify playlist is full of Ethiopian Jazz, and I am also a poet. Most people expect me to be out of touch with the arts as a physicist and mathematician, but for me, physics is all about discovering the poetry of the universe.

Will – Senior Co-Curricular Prefect What do you enjoy doing outside of the classroom?

I love music, drama and sport.

I enjoy playing the piano and guitar, often performing with my band in band nights throughout the year. I enjoy performing in College plays too, as well as playing rugby and rowing for my sports.

What’s one of your more unusual interests?

I’m particularly fascinated by the Second World War: the different campaigns involved, specific battles, and especially the weaponry and equipment soldiers used.

At home, I have a collection of artefacts and de-activated weapons which I hope to expand.

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